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About Diabetes

Traveling With Diabetic Supplies

How to Travel With Medications and Insulin

Here are tips for traveling with your medications and insulin:

1. Consult your health care team and pharmacist to determine how to carry insulin and other medications that need refrigeration.
2. Use a small, insulated lunch bag with an ice pack, especially for long trips.
3. Look for a miniature needle or lancet disposal box that fits into the bag/pack in which you are carrying insulin, syringes, and lancets. This way, you can check blood glucose, inject insulin, and dispose of supplies easily. Purchase self-disposing needles to eliminate the need for sharps containers.
4. Remember your glucose meter.
5. Prepare for heightened security measures at airports. While these guidelines are subject to change, the Transportation Security Administration requires that passengers with diabetes notify screeners if they are traveling with medications and/or diabetic supplies.
6. Clearly identify your medications and/or insulin in any form or dispenser.
7. Notify screeners if you are wearing an insulin pump and explain that you cannot go through the metal detector or be screened with a hand wand. Also, let the screener know that the insulin pump cannot be removed because it is surgically implanted.
8. Present insulin pumps and supplies, along with insulin that is professionally labeled, identifying the medication or manufacturer's name or pharmacy label.
9. Advise screeners if you are experiencing low blood sugar and are in need of medical assistance.
10. You have the option of requesting a visual inspection of your insulin and diabetes-associated supplies.
11. Some airlines have their own rules specifically for people traveling with insulin, syringes, and lancets. The American Diabetes Association®* recommends calling the airlines with which you will be traveling.

The following medications, diabetes-related supplies, and equipment are allowed through the checkpoint once they have been screened:

1. Insulin and insulin-loaded dispensing products
2. Unlimited number of unused syringes for insulin or other injectable medication Lancets, blood glucose meters, blood glucose meter test strips, alcohol swabs, and meter-testing solutions
3. Insulin pump and supplies (cleaning agents, batteries, plastic tubing, infusion kit, catheter, and needles)
4. Urine ketone test strips
5. Unlimited number of used syringes when transported in sharps disposal container, or other similar hard-surface container

*Not a registered trademark of Abbott Laboratories